Before Rutgers and Nebraska tip off at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the United Center in Chicago, college basketball writer SCOTT RICHEY analyzes all 14 teams heading into the 22nd Big Ten tournament, sizing up their chances to win the title and what they'll need to do in order to keep their fans happy:
No. 1 Michigan State (25-6)
THEIR BEST PLAYER IS ... Cassius Winston, the likely Big Ten Player of the Year. The junior point guard has shouldered an even heavier burden this season without Joshua Langford and Nick Ward, and he's managed to keep the Spartans at the top of the conference.